Metallographic

preparation
of stainless steel Application
Corrosion resistant steels contain at
least 11% chromium and are collectively
Notes
known as “stainless steels“. Within this
group of high alloy steels four categories
can be identified: ferritic, martensitic,
austenitic, and austenitic-ferritic (duplex)
stainless steels. These categories de-
scribe the alloy’s microstructure at room
temperature, which is largely influenced
by the alloy composition.

The main characteristic of stainless steels

is their corrosion resistance. This prop- High performance stainless steel parts for the
erty can be enhanced by the addition of aircraft industry

specific alloying elements, which have a

further beneficial effect on other charac- chemical, medical and food industries,
teristics such as toughness and oxidation in professional kitchens, architecture and
resistance. even jewelry.

For instance, niobium and titanium in- Metallography of stainless steels is an

crease resistance against intergranular important part of the overall quality
corrosion as they absorb the carbon to control of the production process. The
form carbides; nitrogen increases strength main metallographic tests are grain size
and sulphur increases machinability, measurement, identification of delta
because it forms small manganese sul- ferrite and sigma phase and the evalu-
phides which result in short machining ation and distribution of carbides. In
chips. Due to their corrosion resistance addition, metallography is used in failure
and superior surface finishes stainless analysis investigating corrosion/oxida-
steels play a major part in the aircraft, tion mechanisms.
Fig.1: Duplex steel etched electrolytically with 150x
40% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution,
showing blue austenite and yellow ferrite

Difficulties during metallographic preparation Solution:

Grinding and polishing: Deformation and scratching in ferritic and austenitic stain- Thorough diamond polishing and final
less steels. Retention of carbides and inclusions. polishing with colloidal silica or alumina.

Surface of stainless steel after 3µm polish, DIC 25x Insufficiently polished stainless steel after 100x
showing deformation from grinding colour etching (Beraha II), showing deformation
Production and
application of
stainless steel
Fig.2:
Austenitic steel,
colour etched
(Beraha II).

100x

The production process of high alloy steels

is a sophisticated process of melting and Production Flow
Melting Electric Arc
Furnace
remelting. A mixture of iron and well sorted
scrap is first melted in an electric arc furnace
and then cast into ingot form or continu-
Refining Vacuum
ously cast into bloom or billet. For many Induction
Furnace
applications these primary products can be
further processed into bar, rod or plate form. Ladle Vacuum Vacuum
For steels with higher quality demands, the Furnace Degas-
sing
Treatment

primary pro-duct can be used as feedstock

for a secondary steelmaking process. This
secondary process can be a double or even Casting Ingot Continuous
triple remelt by vacuum induction melting Casting Casting

plus vacuum arc remelting or electroslag

remelting, which can also be done under
pressure and protective gases.
Remelting Vacuum
Induction
Melting
The main purpose of this secondary process Protective Electro- Vacuum
Gas slag Arc Furnace
is to reduce impurities such as oxides, sul- Electroslag Remel-
Remelting ting
phides and silicates so that with successive
remelts the degree of cleanliness increases
and homogenous ingots with excellent me-
chanical and physical properties are produced. Hot forming Hot Hot Rolling
Forging

Application
The corrosion resistance of stainless steels
is based on alloying chromium with iron, Heat
and is dependant on the formation of a pas- treatment
sive surface oxide layer, which rebuilds itself and
machining
spontaneously when mechanically damaged.

A variety of different types of corrosion can

occur, such as pitting, stress, intercrystalline
or vibrational corrosion. Improved resistance Applications: magnetic valves, razor blades, Applications: screws, bolts and implants, low
against any specific form of attack can be car trim. temperature applications, vessels and pipes
provided by adding alloying elements other in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food
than chromium, for instance molybdenum, Martensitic stainless steels are heat industries, kitchen utensils.
which improves resistance against pitting treatable alloys with medium carbon content,
corrosion. The main alloys, properties and 12-18% chromium and 2-4% nickel. Austenitic-ferritic steels, (Duplex) have
examples of applications of the four types of Properties: high corrosion resistance, and a low carbon content and generally higher
stainless steels are briefly described: high temperature and creep resistance. Appli- chromium (21-24%) and lower nickel content
cations: scalpels, knives, hooks and tweezers (4-6%) than austenitic steels, and 2-3%
Ferritic stainless steels: are non heat in medical applications, drive systems and molybdenum.
treatable alloys with a low carbon content high performance parts for airplanes.
and 11-17% chromium. Properties: fatigue resistance in corrosive
Austenitic stainless steels are not heat media, good resistance against stress
Properties: magnetic, resistant to atmos- treatable, have 0.03-0.05 % carbon, main corrosion.
pheric corrosion, moderate strength and alloying elements are chromium (17-24 %),
toughness. nickel (8-25%) and molybdenum (2-4%); Applications: equipment
titanium and niobium are added for carbide for chemical, environmental
forming. Properties: high ductility, high and offshore industries,
corrosion resistance, resistant to oxidizing architecture.
acids, alkalis, very good cold forming prop-
erties, easy to work and machine.
Difficulties in Grinding

the preparation of Step PG FG

stainless steels Surface Foil/Paper MD-Largo

Type SiC Diamond

Abrasive
Size #220 9 μm

Suspension/ Water DiaPro

Lubricant Allegro/Largo 9

Ferritic stainless steels are soft and Table 1 shows a preparation method for stain-
rpm 300 150
austenitic steels are ductile. Both are prone less steel samples, 30 mm mounted, on the
to mechanical deformation. Final polishing semi-automatic Tegramin 300 mm diameter.
usually leaves these steels highly reflective, Table 2 shows a preparation method for 6 Force [N]/ 25 40
specimen
however, if they are not thoroughly prepol- stainless steel samples, 65x30 mm, cold
ished, deformation can reappear after etching mounted or unmounted using Struers MAPS
Time (min) As needed 5
(Fig. 3). or AbraPlan/AbraPol, 350 mm diameter.

Due to their hardness, martensitic steels are Electrolytic polishing Polishing

relatively easy to polish. In general, care For research work or fast, general structure
should be taken to preserve the carbides. check, electrolytical polishing and etching Step DP OP
can be an alternative to mechanical polishing
of stainless steels, as it does not leave any
Surface MD-Dac MD-Chem
mechanical deformation.
Type Diamond Silica/Alumina
Electrolytic polishing gives excellent results Abrasive
Size 3 μm 0.04/0.02 μm
for checking the microstructure (Fig. 4), but
it is not suited to identify carbides. They are Suspension/ DiaPro OP-S NonDry
washed out or appear enlarged. Lubricant Dac 3 OP-A

Before electrolytic polishing, the samples rpm 150 150

have to be ground to 1000# on silicon carbide

foil/paper. The finer the initial surface the bet- Force [N]/ 20 15
specimen
Fig. 3: Austenitic steel insufficiently polished 500x ter the results of the electrolytical polish (see
showing deformation after etching (Beraha II) preparation method below).
Time (min) 4 2-3

Table 1: Preparation method for stainless steel samples, 30 mm

Recommendations for diameter mounted, on the semi-automatic Tegramin, 300 mm diameter.

the preparation of stainless As an alternative to DiaPro polycrystalline diamond suspension P can be

steels used together with green/blue lubricant.

It is strongly recommended that for the soft

and ductile stainless steels the use of very
coarse grinding foil/papers and high pres- Etching
sures should be avoided, as this can result Etching stainless steels requires some experi-
in deep deformation. As a general rule, ence and patience. The literature for etchants
the finest possible grit, consistent with the is extensive, and it is recommended to try a
sample area and surface roughness, should variety in order to set up an individual stock of
be used for plane grinding. Fine grinding solutions appropriate for the particular materi-
is carried out with diamond on a rigid disc al which is regulary prepared in the laboratory.
(MD-Largo) or, as an alternative for some
Fig. 4: Stainless steel weld, polished and etched
types of stainless steels, on a MD-Plan cloth. electrolytically, DIC By virtue of the fact that stainless steels are
Fine grinding is followed by a thorough dia- highly corrosion resistant, very strong acids
mond polish on a medium soft cloth, and the are required to reveal their structure. Stand-
Electrolyte: A3 ard safety precautions have to be used when
final polish with colloidal silica (OP-S), or
Area: 1cm²
alumina (OP-A) removes the fine scratches. handling these etchants. In many laboratories
Voltage: 35 V
This step should be very thorough and it can the etchants mentioned in the literature will
Flowrate: 13
take up to several minutes. A good final pol- be modified according to the material to be
Time: 25 sec
ish increases the chance for a better contrast etched or even out of personal preference.
(see “Etching“). For good etching results, a sufficient final
External etching with stainless steel etching dish:
oxide polishing is essential. Following are
Any deformation from the first grinding step, 10% aqueous oxalic acid some etchants which have proved successful
which is not removed by fine grinding, will Voltage: 15V in every day, routine applications.
leave its traces and can not be removed by Time: 60 sec

final polishing.
Preparation method for electrolytic polishing and
etching of stainless steel. Grinding on SiC foil/paper
320#, 500# and 1000#.
Grinding

Step PG FG

Surface Stone 3A36 MD-Largo

Type Al2O3 Diamond

Abrasive
Size #150 9 μm

Suspension/ Water DiaPro

Lubricant Allegro/Largo 9

rpm 1450 150

Structure interpretation
Ferritic stainless steels do not respond to
Force [N]/ 50 50 heat treatment. Their properties however can
specimen be influenced by cold working. They are mag-
netic at room temperature. The microstructure
Time (min) As needed 9 in the annealed condition consists of ferrite
grains in which fine carbides are embedded.
Polishing
Ferritic steels used for machining contain a
large amount of manganese sulfides to facili-
Step DP 1 DP 2 OP
tate free cutting (Fig. 5).

Martensitic stainless steels respond to

Surface MD-Mol APS MD-Nap MD-Chem heat treatment. Martensite is formed through
rapid cooling and properties can then be opti-
Type Diamond Diamond Silica/Alumina mised by subsequent tempering treatment.
Abrasive
Size 3 μm 1 μm 0.04 μm / - The alloys are magnetic. Depending on the
thermal treatment the microstructure can range
Suspension/ DiaPro DiaPro OP-S NonDry
Lubricant Mol B 3 Nap B 1 OP-A from pure martensitic structure to fine tem-
pered martensite.
rpm 150 150 150 Different alloys and various dimensions of
semi-finished products require complex heat
Force [N]/ 50 25 25
treatment temperatures and times.
specimen
Delta ferrite (Fig. 6) is usually an unwanted
Time (min) 6 4 2-3 phase, because long annealing times of steels
with high chromium content, at temperatures
Table 2: Preparation method for stainless steel samples, 65x30mm, cold between 700 and 950°C, can change the delta
mounted or unmounted using Struers MAPS or AbraPlan/AbraPol, 350 mm diameter. ferrite into the hard and brittle iron-chromium
intermetallic sigma phase.
As an alternative to DiaPro polycrystalline diamond suspension P can be used together with
green/blue lubricant.

Chemical etching
3) V2A etchant:
Caution: Always follow the recommended
100 ml water
safety precautions when working with chemi-
100 ml hydrochloric acid
cal reagents.
10 ml nitric acid
For martensitic steels Etch at room temperature or
925 ml ethanol up to 50°C
25 g picric acid
Color etchant Beraha II:
50 ml hydrochloric acid
Stock solution
For austenitic steels 800 ml distilled water Fig. 5: Ferritic stainless steel with manganese 200x
sulfides and strings of small carbides, etched
1) Swab etch: 400 ml hydrochloric acid electrolytically with 10% oxalic acid
500 ml distilled water 48 g ammonium biflouride
300 ml hydrochloric acid To 100 ml of this stock solution
200 ml nitric acid add 1-2 g potassium metabisulfite
50 ml of a saturated for etching.
iron-III-chloride solution
2.5 g copper-II-chloride Electrolytic etching
For austenitic-ferritic steels (Duplex)
2) 100 ml water
40% aqueous sodium hydroxide
300 ml hydrochloric acid
solution
15 ml hydrogen peroxide (30%)
All stainless steels:
10% aqueous oxalic acid
Fig. 6: Tempered martensitic stainless 75x
steel with delta ferrite, etched with picric acid
 complex carbides within the austenite grains. For a successful mechanical polish,
This leads to an impoverishment of chromium it is suggested that
in the austenite solid solution, which increases - coarse abrasives for plane grinding
the susceptibility to intergranular corrosion or are avoided.
oxidation. - fine grinding and polishing with
diamond should be thorough
By reducing the carbon to below 0.015% and and ensure removal of all
adding small amounts of titanium or niobium, deformation from plane grinding.
the risk of intergranular corrosion is reduced, - a final oxide polish with colloidal
as these elements form carbides in preference silica or alumina should be carried
to the chrome (Fig. 8). out to provide a deformation free surface.
Fig. 7: Cold worked austenitic steel showing twinning,
etched with V2A etchant.
Delta ferrite can appear due to critical heat A four step procedure, completed on automatic
treatment conditions in martensitic or cold preparation equipment, gives good and repro-
working of austenitic steels (Fig. 9). ducible results. Stainless steels are difficult
to etch chemically and the recommended
Austenitic-ferritic stainless steels (Duplex) etchants are very corrosive and require careful
consist of ferrite and austenite. Electrolytic handling.
etching in a 40% caustic soda solution reveals
the structure and the correct percentage of each Alternatively, electrolytical polishing and etch-
phase can be estimated (see Fig.1, and Fig. 10 ing is recommended, which gives a deforma-
below). These steels are ductile and are specifi- tion free surface, but does not retain carbides.
cally used in the food, paper and petroleum
industries.
Fig. 8: Austenite with carbides and some 200x
titanium carbon nitrides
Summary
Stainless steels are corrosion resistant steels
with high chromium and nickel contents. Fer-
ritic and stainless steels are soft, respectively
ductile, and are prone to mechanical deforma-
tion and scratching during metallographic
preparation. In addition, carbides can not
always be retained.

Fig. 9: Austenitic steel with strings of delta 125x

ferrite, showing microsegregations.
Blue areas: depletion of alloying elements.

Heating up to 1050°C and subsequent

quenching removes the sigma phase and with
it the embrittlement.

Austenitic stainless steels do not

respond to thermal treatment, instead, rapid
cooling results in the production of their
softest condition. In this state they are non-
magnetic and their properties are influenced
by cold working. The microstructure of these
steels consists of austenite grains which may Fig.10: Forged duplex steel showing blue ferrite, white
exhibit twinning (Fig. 7). Exposure of these austenite and fine needles of sigma phase, etched
electrolytically with 40% aqueous sodium hydroxide.
steels to elevated temperatures in the region
of 600-700°C can result in the formation of 150x
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Application
Notes AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND NETHERLANDS
Struers Australia Struers GmbH Nederland
Metallographic preparation of stainless steel 27 Mayneview Street Zomerdijk 34 A
Milton QLD 4064 3143 CT Maassluis
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Anne Guesnier, Struers A/S, Copenhagen Phone +61 7 3512 9600 Fax +31 (10) 5997201
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Bill Taylor, Struers, Ltd., Glasgow, UK. [email protected]
NORWAY
BELGIUM (Wallonie) Struers ApS, Norge
Acknowledgements Struers S.A.S. Sjøskogenveien 44C
We wish to thank Böhler Edelstahl GmbH, Kapfenberg, 370, rue du Marché Rollay 1407 Vinterbro
F- 94507 Champigny Telefon +47 970 94 285
Austria, for generously supplying information, sample sur Marne Cedex [email protected]
material, and the permission to reproduce the photo Téléphone +33 1 5509 1430
Télécopie +33 1 5509 1449 AUSTRIA
of parts on page 1 and the diagram of production [email protected] Struers GmbH
flow on page 2. Special thanks go to J. Hofstätter for Zweigniederlassung Österreich
BELGIUM (Flanders) Betriebsgebiet Puch Nord 8
the co-operation and to A. Dreindl for contributing Struers GmbH Nederland 5412 Puch
micrographs Figs. 1, 2, 6, 9 and 10. Zomerdijk 34 A Telefon +43 6245 70567
We thank Dr. H. Schnarr, Struers GmbH, Willich, 3143 CT Maassluis Fax +43 6245 70567-78
Telefoon +31 (10) 599 7209 [email protected]
Germany, for micrographs Figs. 4 and 7. Fax +31 (10) 5997201
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Schumann, VEB Deutscher Verlag für Struers Ltd. ul. Jasnogórska 44
7275 West Credit Avenue 31-358 Kraków
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Verlag W. Giradet, Essen, 1977 Fax +1 905-814-1440 [email protected]
[email protected]
Metals Handbook, Desk Edition, ASM, Metals Park, ROMANIA
Ohio, 44073, 1985 CHINA Struers GmbH, Sucursala
Struers Ltd. Bucuresti
Color Metallography, E. Beraha, B. Shpigler, ASM, No. 1696 Zhang Heng Road Str. Preciziei nr. 6R
Metals Park, Ohio, 44073, 1977 Zhang Jiang Hi-Tech Park 062203 sector 6, Bucuresti
Shanghai 201203, P.R. China Phone +40 (31) 101 9548
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[email protected]
Grunstoffindustrie, Leipzig, 1976 SWITZERLAND
Metallography, Principles and Practice, George F. CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA Struers GmbH
Struers GmbH Organizační složka Zweigniederlassung Schweiz
VanderVoort, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1984 vědeckotechnický park Weissenbrunnenstraße 41
Merkblatt 821, Edelstahl Rostfrei-Eigenschaften Přílepská 1920, CH-8903 Birmensdorf
Informationsstelle Edelstahl Rostfrei, Düsseldorf, BRD CZ-252 63 Roztoky u Prahy Telefon +41 44 777 63 07
Phone +420 233 312 625 Fax +41 44 777 63 09
Metallographic instructions for color etching by Fax +420 233 312 640 [email protected]
immersion, E. Weck, E. Leistner, Deutscher Verlag für [email protected]
[email protected] SINGAPORE
Schweisstechnik (DVS), Düsseldorf, 1983 Struers Singapore
GERMANY 627A Aljunied Road,
Struers GmbH #07-08 BizTech Centre
Carl-Friedrich-Benz-Straße 5 Singapore 389842
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Telefon +49 (0) 2154 486-0 Fax +65 6299 2661
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